Portable pellet dispenser



L. A. BRAITHWAITE PORTABLE PELLET DISPENSER June 22, 1954 Filed Dec. 26, 1950 INVBNTOR e1/MJA. mimze BY fa@ 4 Patented June 22, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a portable pellet dispenser and, more particularly, to such a dispenser capable of being loaded with a number of pellets and then actuated to dispense the pellets selectively as desired.

The present invention is directed to the problem of providing a dispenser which can be readily loaded by the user, then carried on the person of the user, and, while so carried, be actuated to dispense pellets individually as desired. In this connection, a dispenser constructed in accordance with the teaching of the present invention has been found to have particular utility as a dispenser for dispensing salmon eggs used by shermen as bait. For such usage the dispenser is adapted to be loaded with salmon eggs and then attached to the person of the fisherman so that it will be readily accessible when he desires to obtain a salmon egg to bait his hook. To obtain a salmon egg, the fisherman can actuate the dispenser with one hand and receive the discharged salmon egg in the same hand without removing the dispenser from his person and thus leave his other hand free for other uses.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved portable pellet dispenser for dispensing small substantially round pellets. such as salmon eggs used by fishermen as bait, selectively as desired.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such a dispenser which can be readily loaded with small substantially round pellets, carried on the person of the user, and, while so carried. actuated to deliver individual pellets as desired. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such a dispenser which can be actuated with one hand to dispense an individual pellet without removing the dispenser from the person of the user.

Briefly stated, a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises an elongated hollow tubular casing open at one end and closed at the other end. The casing is adapted to be positioned in upright position with the open end uppermost. A pellet container is housed within the casing and is removable through the open end of the casing for loading, following which, it can be reinserted into the casing.

The pellet container has an opening in the side thereof through which pellets may be inserted into the container when it is removed from the casing. Also, the casing has an orifice in the side thereof through which one pellet may pass at a time. The dimensions ofthe container with respect to the casing are such that the pellets are prevented by the casing from escaping from the container when the container is in the casing except when the container opening is opposite the casing orifice. The container has a handle extending therefrom and by means of which the container can be moved axially with respect to the casing to bring the container opening opposite the casing orifice to discharge pellets. This handle engages a guide slot in the casing to keep the container opening properly aligned with respect to the casing orifice. Means are provided to cause a pellet to be discharged when the container opening is opposite the casing orifice.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the attached drawing in which Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention attached to the person of a user; Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation showing said embodiment in operative position to discharge a pellet into the hand of a user; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a sectional view in side elevation taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

As previously stated, the present invention has found particular utility as a dispenser for dispensing salmon eggs used by fishermen as bait. Accordingly, and for convenience of description, the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing will be described with reference to its usage as a dispenser for salmon eggs but it will of course be understood that the dispenser could be used to dispense other small substantially round pellets similar in size and shape to salmon eggs.

One of the attributes of the present invention is that a dispenser constructed in accordance with said invention can be carried on the person of the user and readily manipulated by him, with one hand if desired, to dispense individual pellets While so carried. Thus, referring to Figs. 1 and 5, the numeral l denotes a hollow tubular casing open at the top and closed at the bottom. This casing I is supported in substantially upright position by being connected to the belt 2 which is Worn on the clothing 3 of the user. Thus, referring to Fig. 2, the casing l has a belt receiving loop 4 connected thereto adjacent the open upper end of the casing. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawing, the casing I is a hollow cylindrical casing, thus being circular in cross section as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The pellets to be dispensed, salmon eggs being assumed as an example, are housed within a container 5 which is adapted to be positioned within the casing l as is shown in Fig. 1. This container 5 is a hollow cylindrical container having oppositely disposed ends 6 and l which are connected by a curved Wall 8. Wall 8 has an opening 9 extending therethrough, this opening Ibeing bounded on one side by end E of the container as shown in the drawing. In effect, the opening 9 is a window opening in the curved wall of container 5.

The diameter of the container 5 with respect to the diameter of the casing I is such that the container ts snugly within the casing but nevertheless may be moved axially (i. e. up and down when the casing is in upright position) with respect to the casing. Thus, the container 5 may be removed from the casing through Athe open end of the casing and `can .then be reinserted in the casing until the container reaches the position shown in Fig. 1. During removal from the casing the container may be loaded with salmon eggs (through the opening 9) and when the container is reinserted into the casing the curved wall I9 of the casing will prevent the salmon eggs from escaping from the container through opening 9 except when such escape is intended. This, of course, results from the'snug `iit between the container and the casing whereby there is little space between the curved wall 9 of the container and the curved wall I9 of the casing.

A manipulating handle II extends from container 5 adjacent the upper end l of the container. This handle II includes a portion I2 which extends substantially at right angles outward from the containerand a portion I3 which -is-curved over and down so that it will lie alongn l side wall I ofthe casing I when the container is vin position as shown in Fig. v1. Wall iii ci casing I has an open guide slot or track lli therein Awhich extends downward from the open end or" casing I and terminates in an orifice -I5 which is llocated approximately midway of the height of .the casing. The widthof the guide` slot I4 is such rthatit will receive handle portion I2, -which -extends substantially at right angles from the container 5, and permit portion I2 to move in a direction axially of the casing I. In other words, when casing I is positioned in substantially upright position as is shown in Fig. 1,-handle portion I2 `may be moved up and down within guide -slot I4. Also, when container 5 is insertedinto 4casing I, guide slotV I willreceive handle portion l2. .The positioning of handle'portion I2 with respect to opening 19 -of container 5 is-such Athat `this opening 9 may be brought into registry with orice I5 upon axial movement of container 5 with respect tocasing I. `Since the engagement 'of handle portion I2 with the walls of guide slot `M'prevents rotation of opening 9 within casing vI the necessary alignment between opening 9 and orice I5 is maintained.

Orifice i5 is of vsuch size and shape that it will pass but one pellet (salmon egg) at a time. ofcourse, the size and shape of orifice 55xx/ill be predetermined to suit the particular pellet being dispensed. For salmon eggs, orifice Iwill be circular and slightly greater in diameter Vthan the diameter of an individual salmon egg.

When container 5 is loaded `with salmon eggs and is inserted into casing I 'so 'that the container is in the lposition shown vin Fig. l, portion I2 of handle I I will engage the lower wall ofcasing orifice I5 to maintain the container in position slightly above the bottom of casing I. When the user grasps "handle I'I .to 'raise container 5 within the casing l, the engagement of handle portion I2 with the Walls of guide Vslot I4 keeps container opening 9 properly positioned with respect to casing orice I5. As a matter of fact. the dispenser can be operated with one hand by placing the second finger of the right hand underneath the lower end of handle II and raising the handle, and thus the container 5 as is shown in Fig. 2, until the container opening 9 comes opposite casing orifice I5. n

When container opening 9 is in registry with casing orifice I5, individual salmon eggs can pass through the opening and orice thus going from within the container to Without the casing. In order to help this to occur, bottom 6 of the container has an inclined portion I6 which slopes so that the salmon eggs are urged toward the container opening 9. Thus, when this opening is opposite orifice I5 the salmon eggs will be urged toward orifice I5 thereby facilitating their discharge from the dispenser. This is shown in Fig. 2 where the salmon eggs are denoted by the reference numeral -I'I and Yone salmon egg 'is shown in process of being dispensed into the palm of the hand I8 shown diagrammatically in Fig. 2. in effect, container bottom 6 with its inclined portion I9 is a platform upon which the salmon eggs rest and by means of Which they can be raised to be brought opposite casing orice I5. As a further means ofcausing a salmon egg to-b'e dispensed when the container opening 9 is vin registry with casing orifice I5, Vthe casing I can be tilted if necessary.

To permit liquid to drain from Vthose 'pellets which are loaded into container`5 when theyiare wet, the container bottom 6 has a .plurality of drainage openings I9 extending'through thelflat portion thereof as is shown in greater `detail in Fig. 4. This is a `feature'of importance in `connection `with the use of the dispenser for dispensing Asalmon eggs since these eggs are wet when loaded into the container 5. .Since Vthe bottom 6 of container 5 is Vspaced above the bottom of casing rI (see'Figs. 1.and'5) Whenfthe container is in its normal position within the casing, liquid can drainirom the eggs and collect'at'the bottom of .the casing. Thus, when the eggs are raised to the position shown in Fig. 2 and are dispensed from the dispenser, they willibeimoist but not dripping.

All parts of the dispenser shown in .the vdrawing, including more particularly the casing :I and container 5, are preferably Vmade of ltransparent plastic material. This is of specialadvantage when the dispenser is used Ifor dispensing salmon 'eggs since these eggs are coloredand can be seen within the dispenser. Of course, `it is not essential to the operation fo'f the dispenser that it be made of transparent material nor of plastic material but'transparent plastic material does have the advantages of viewing the contents and being light in weight and relatively ine'xe pensive. From the ystandpoint of lightness and strength the dispenser could be vmade of vlight weight metal. l

It will Ythus be seen that my'invention 'provides a light weight portable dispenser adapted to be loaded with pellets, carried on theperson ofV the user, and, While so'carri'ed, 'actuated to dispense a pellet at a time.

eggs'where single eggs are used -by fishermen 'as bait. Since the dispenser is Vcarried on the-person it can be operated Vwith one hand togelis-V As indicated, tl'iedispenser has'foundutility for dispensing 'salmon can become quite adept at dispensing a single pellet with but little practice.

While, in the preferred embodiment of my invention shown in the drawing, I have shown the casing i and container 5 as being cylindrical in cross section, it is not essential that they be cylindrical. They could both be oval or even square in cross section. The central idea is to have the container snug enough in the casing so the pellets cannot escape and yet the container can move axially with respect to the casing to align the container opening with the casing orifice.

Accordingly, while I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that I do not intend to be restricted solely thereto but that I do intend to cover all modiiications which would be apparent to one skilled in the art and which come within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A dispenser useful for dispensing small substantially round pellets, such as salmon eggs used by shermen as bait, said dispenser comprising a substantially upright hollow tubular casing having an open tcp, said casing having a lateral orifice extending through the upright casing wall, said oriiice being positioned part way up the upright casing wall and being of predetermined size whereby it will pass but one pellet at a time, a pellet supporting platform positioned within said casing and below said oriiice, said platform having an area such that the platform may be inserted into or withdrawn from the casing through the open top thereof and said platform being liftable within said casing to position pellets supported thereby in registry with said orifice whereby said pellets may be discharged through said orice one at a time, and a handle extending from said platform for so lifting said platform, said casing having a guide slot extending from the open casing top and terminating in the casing orifice, and said handle engaging said guide slot.

2. A dispenser useful for dispensing small substantially round pellets, such as salmon eggs used by iishermen as bait, said dispenser comprising an elongated hollow tubular casing open at one end and closed at the other end, said casing having a tubular wall extending between said ends, a hollow container positioned within said casing, said container being insertable into and withdrawable from said casing through the open and thereof and substantially shorter than said casing and having a tubular wall corresponding in shape to the casing tubular wall, the outer periphery of said container tubular wall being positioned closely adjacent to the inner periphery of said casing tubular wall and said container being movable with respect to said casing lengthwise thereof, said container tubular wall having an opening therein through which pellets may pass and whereby the container may be loaded, said casing tubular wall having an orifice therein of predetermined size to permit one pellet to pass therethrough at a time, and a handle extending from said container whereby said container may be moved to position the opening therein in registry with the casing orice to allow pellets to pass from within said container to without said casing, said casing tubular wall having a guide slot extending from the open end of the casing to a point intermediate the ends thereof and said container handle engaging said 6 guide slot to keep the container opening properly positioned with respect to the casing oriiice.

3. A dispenser useful for dispensing small substantially round pellets, such as salmon eggs used by fishermen as bait, said dispenser comprising an elongated hollow cylindrical casing open at one end and closed at the other end, a cylindrical container positioned within said casing, said container being substantially shorter than said casing and being positioned concentric with respect to said casing, the diameter of said container being such that it iits snugly within said casing and is movable with respect thereto in a direction axially of said casing, said container having an opening in the curved surface thereof through which pellets may pass and whereby the container may be loaded, said casing having an oriiice in the curved surface thereof of predetermined size to permit one pellet to pass therethrough at a time, and a handle extending from said container for moving said container to position the opening therein in registry with the casing orice whereby pellets may pass from within said container to without said casing, said casing having a guide slot in the curved wall thereof extending from the open end of the casing to a point intermediate the ends of the casing, said container being insertable into and withdrawable from the casing through the open end thereof and the container handle being adapted to engage said guide slot upon said insertion.

4. A dispenser useful for dispensing small substantially round pellets, such as salmon eggs used by fishermen as bait, said dispenser comprising a substantially upright hollow cylindrical casing open at the upper end and closed at the lower end, said casing having a guide slot extending from the open upper end to a location between the ends of the casing, and a cylindrical container positioned within said casing, said container being insertable into and withdrawable from said casing through the open upper end thereof and having a handle member adapted to engage said guide slot when the container is inserted into the casing, said container also having oppositely disposed end walls, and being positioned concentric with respect to said casing, the diameter of said container being such that it lits snugly within said casing and is movable up and down with respect thereto, said container having a window opening in the curved surface thereof through which pellets may pass and whereby the container may be loaded when it is withdrawn from the casing, said opening being located adjacent the lower container end wall, and said end wall having a drainage opening therein to permit liquid to drain from the pellets, said casing having an orifice in the curved surface thereof of predetermined size to permit one pellet to pass therethrough at a time whereby, when said container is moved by means of the handle thereon to position the container opening in registry with the casing orifice, pellets may pass from within said container to without said casing.

References Cited in the rlle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 503,722 Lewis et al. d-- Aug. 22, 1893 781,527 Jeffers Jan. 31, 1905 1,641,335 Johnson Slept, 6, 1927 2,117,685 Smith May 17, 1938 2,377,120 Apfelbaum May 29, 1945 2,443,861 Johnston June 22, 1948 

